DIBRUGARH (India) Jan 16: Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday reiterated his government's offer for talks with separatist rebels in restive northeast Assam state after recent violence left 73 people dead.
A string of attacks on minority Hindi-speaking migrants this month in Assam was blamed on guerillas of the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), which claims to be fighting for an independent homeland.
“I would like to reiterate that the doors for dialogue are open to all disaffected groups, including ULFA, who are willing to abjure violence,” Dr Singh told reporters after reviewing security in the remote state.
The national government and rebel representatives have held several rounds of dialogue to pave way for direct talks, but have failed to break a deadlock.
Last year, the government called off a brief truce after blaming the ULFA for new attacks. Singh said the government, however, will not compromise with any separatist group who resorted to violence.
“I would like to make it clear that there is no room for violence and it will not be tolerated,” the premier said in the state's eastern Dibrugarh city, where some of the attacks took place.
“No one should mistake our openness for talks and dialogue as a sign of weakness.” Dr Singh said he had been assured by the government of neighbouring Myanmar that it would take action against militants fighting Indian rule from its soil.—AFP
